This article analyzes the regional financial and economic outlook for Akita Prefecture published by the Bank of Japan Akita Branch in July 2025.
The economy in Akita Prefecture is recovering gradually, although some areas show weakening movements. By demand item, personal consumption is recovering gradually while being affected by price increases, with large retail store sales weakening, drugstore sales increasing (+12.4% year-on-year), convenience store sales picking up (+2.5% year-on-year), passenger car sales also picking up, while home appliance sales and home center sales show weak movements. Service consumption shows solid recovery with tourism and corporate/group demand performing well.
Public investment is increasing gradually, with June public works contracts increasing significantly by +65.0% year-on-year. Housing investment shows weak movements, while May new housing starts increased +24.8% year-on-year. Equipment investment maintains high levels but growth momentum is slowing, with the June Tankan (Akita Prefecture) showing 2025 plans for manufacturing decreasing significantly by -29.2% and all industries decreasing by -10.5% year-on-year.
Production shows weak movements, with April mining and manufacturing production index at -5.3% month-on-month, showing by sector that mainstay electronic parts and devices have weak movements, food products move within a flat range, general-purpose and business machinery increase, and production machinery decrease. Employment and income environment is improving gradually, while May effective job opening ratio decreased to 1.20 times from the previous month, and April cash salaries fell -1.4% below the previous year.
Prices exceed the previous year, with June consumer price index (excluding fresh food, Akita city) at +2.4% year-on-year. Financially, loans move at the previous year level, loan contract average interest rates rise gradually, and both deposits and real deposits move at the previous year level.
The article shows that while Akita Prefecture's economy is on a gradual recovery trend, some areas show weakening movements such as weak production and declining equipment investment plans.